[Solved] Can't install Vista on new build. XP works fine

[Gerbil333]

I rebuilt a friend's computer last night:

Asus M4A78 Plus
Athlon X2 5600
Corsair 2x2GB DDR2 800
HIS Radeon HD-4670 512MB
Samsung 500GB SATA II hd
NEC 16x DVD-RW
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX

Memtest86 has been running for 12 hours without errors. Windows XP installed fine, but Vista 64-bit will not install properly. I've encountered several problems:

1) No hard drives were detected. This problem cleared itself up after numerous attempts.

2) Once Vista began installing, I received the following error:

Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exist. Make sure
all files required for installation are available, and restart the
installation. Error code: 0x80070003.

3) I tried another optical drive and error (2) vanished. However, I received another strange error requiring that I restart the installation (no error code). I did, and Vista installed that time...

4) The Vista boot-up progress bar was scrolling faster than I could see. Once finally into the O/S, the time zone selection screen did this: Clock Link


The computer is stable and behaves perfectly in XP. My Vista disc is an original, genuine DVD from Microsoft. Any ideas?

***Solution*** -- Removed the Audigy 2 ZS.

 

[Dahak]

id double check the sata cables if "1) No hard drives were detected. This problem cleared itself up after numerous attempts. " that happened sounds like a loose cable.

I know its relatively a new board but check for bios updates as well
check to see if in the bios the sata mode is set to ide, raid, or ahci. Try it on ide and see if its any more stable. could be vista pre sp1 and the nvidia controller


could be something with vista pre-sp1. see if you can get a vista install disk with sp1 integrated and see if that works any better

what really throws me for the loop is that it works fine with xp

 

[Gerbil333]

I've tried most of that. The SATA configuration in the BIOS only has options for "SATA", "AHCI", and "RAID". Unlike most newer motherboards I've used, the "IDE" option is absent. I've left it set to "SATA", which I assume is right since XP found the hard drive the first time, no drivers necessary.

I should have access to a SP1 disc...I'll find that and report back.

 

[Gerbil333]

Vista SP1 didn't help, nor did Windows 7 RC1. I observed the same behavior in both installers--extremely rapid animations for everything (progress bars, the spinning cursor, clock, etc.).

Solution: I pulled the Audigy 2 ZS. Vista 64-bit installed flawlessly on the first attempt. That was a very strange conflict...

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
Vista SP1 didn't help, nor did Windows 7 RC1. I observed the same behavior in both installers--extremely rapid animations for everything (progress bars, the spinning cursor, clock, etc.).

Solution: I pulled the Audigy 2 ZS. Vista 64-bit installed flawlessly on the first attempt. That was a very strange conflict...

Not surprising since Creative seems to have a hard time getting it's act together to properly support Vista and now 7. They keep trying to blame Microsoft for their issues when no other sound card vendors seem to have the same troubles with the new driver model.

My suggestion is to stick with on-board audio or get one of the new Asus cards instead. I refuse to ever put anything Creative on another PC again.

 

[RebateMonger]

I don't know exactly how the BIOS clock and Windows relate to each other nowadays, but first thing I'd do is boot to the BIOS and see if that clock is fast, too.